Carboplatin

Hi,

My mother is currently on a new research drug for her Stage IV NSCLC and if this doesn't continue to work the they are considering trying Carboplatin. I was just wondering how well this works and what the side effects would be? We really want to try Tarceva but we are not sure if she should do the IV chemo first then Tarceva? My mother does have history of smoking and other than the cancer she has no other health problems. We are just confused on what to do. If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks- Missy

 

On 6/3/2009 melian wrote:

Hi,

My mother is currently on a new research drug for her Stage IV NSCLC and if this doesn't continue to work the they are considering trying Carboplatin. I was just wondering how well this works and what the side effects would be? We really want to try Tarceva but we are not sure if she should do the IV chemo first then Tarceva? My mother does have history of smoking and other than the cancer she has no other health problems. We are just confused on what to do. If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks- Missy

Hi Misty,

My mom had tried Carboplatin along with eptoside for the first line chemo.  It is not good. those are toxic and all side effects.  She then starts having diabetic (virtually blind after the 6 rounds), swolleness, geographic tongue syndrome, Congestive Heart Failure - CHF, crack skins, pneumonia, coughings, all the worse kinds... 

The tarceva has a lower side effects and not giving you much toxicity level in the long run after chemo done.

You can search at http://www.tarceva.com/patient/taking/effects.jsp for more info.

good luck!

Victoria

 

My husband was receiving cisplatin/etoposide... and getting positive response, until he started going in to kidney failure. They changed the cisplatin to carboplatin and he had two treatments. His chemo nurses thought it would be better... less nausea. With the cisplatin/etoposide...he had to have a few blood transfusions. Both times with carboplatin, his platelets bottomed out and both his RBC's and WBC's were way off and he's have to have several PRC and platelet transfusions. If the carboplatin is used, be watching closely for tiredness. Bill came home from his chemo and just wanted to sit. We mentioned this to his nurse, who said it was just from the chemo. She said "I'll take the tiredness.... just let us know if he can't keep anything down." He had to be admitted a few days later because his platelets were down to 3,000 and his WBC's were below 1. 

Did it help decrease any of the cancer?

 

On 6/3/2009 melian wrote:

Hi,

My mother is currently on a new research drug for her Stage IV NSCLC and if this doesn't continue to work the they are considering trying Carboplatin. I was just wondering how well this works and what the side effects would be? We really want to try Tarceva but we are not sure if she should do the IV chemo first then Tarceva? My mother does have history of smoking and other than the cancer she has no other health problems. We are just confused on what to do. If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks- Missy

 

Misty,I am so happy to give you good new!. I am 67 years old and was given 3-6 months to live because I had stage lV lung cancer in four of my five lung  lobes and mine had metastasied to my Hilar lymph nodes and upper mediastinal, as well as to my mediastinal lymph nodes and the axial lymph nodes unter my arms. The good news to me was it had not spread to my liiver or brain. Yeah!  I am definitely an optimistic ever since I got cancer.  I never realized how blessed I am.  Anyway, it is a year and half later and  I'm still here.

1st treatment was Carboplatin  630 mg with Gemzar 160 mg.  This worked lke a charm.  Everyone can tolerate different amounts. my doctor suggested 3 treatment. There was such an improvement  after 3 that I asked if we could do three more. She suggested we take it one at a time from this point on and I was to tell her when I couldn't take it any more. Well we did three more and another CT.  Yes there had been unbelieveable improvement and all the LYMPH NODES HAD CLEARED UP.  NO SIGN OF THEM. THE NODULES IN MY LUNGS HAD EITHER DISAPPEARED COMPLETELY OR WERE REDUCED TO SUCH SMALL SIZES THEY WERE HARD TO EVEN MEASURE. AND THE CANCER HAD NOT SPREAD TO ANY OTHER ORGANS. THey suggested I take a Break from Chemo, but I said I was still strong enough to take another treatment. Now understand that doesn't mean I wasn't tired because I was.  So I took number 7 and I knew that I couldn't handle any more treatments.

 

Back for a a ct scan.  Nothing had grown , but it was suggested  that I had  2 options at that point.  1.  wait till the cancer started growing again and it would they said or 2.  be more pro active and do radiation. I picked the radiation and it was hard.  In some ways harder then the Chemo.  It was an individual decision that each person has to make  for himself.  Get all the facts. I took 6 weeks off after radiation and went on a vacation and stayed around the house getting my strength back.  A glorious 6 weeks.  After that was over My Oncologist sugested at this time after taking another Ct and PET that She wanted to put me on a second line drug called ALIMTA. It is now the beginning of June  2009 and I have been on that drug since Oct, of 2008.Every treatment brings on new challenges, but it is keeping me alive. There are cases where people have been on this drug for 3 years.  By the way there is very little or no toxicity, unlike carboplatin and gemzar.

At this point I can still play golf, take 1 mile walks , go out to dinner regularly with friends.  Yes I have my bad days,but I sure try and make the most of my good days. At this point I would say I have more good days than bad, that gives me a quality of life I can live with.  I must add to this that I have a husband and friends who stepped up and helped me every step of the way when I need it.  I still drive 1 1/2 hours  to my appointments by myself and control my own care and stay informed as much as I can.  You have to be assertive and learn what you options are. I hope this has been helpful. If you want my telephone numer just let me know. I talk with several lung cancer patients and they are all doing quite well.

God Bless you and keep you safe,

Jo Anne

 

 

On 6/4/2009 Jo Anne golfer wrote:

 

On 6/3/2009 melian wrote:

Hi,

My mother is currently on a new research drug for her Stage IV NSCLC and if this doesn't continue to work the they are considering trying Carboplatin. I was just wondering how well this works and what the side effects would be? We really want to try Tarceva but we are not sure if she should do the IV chemo first then Tarceva? My mother does Ahave history of smoking and other than the cancer she has no other health problems. We are just confused on what to do. If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks- Missy

 

Misty,I am so happy to give you good new!. I am 67 years old and was given 3-6 months to live because I had stage lV lung cancer in four of my five lung  lobes and mine had metastasied to my Hilar lymph nodes and upper mediastinal, as well as to my mediastinal lymph nodes and the axial lymph nodes unter my arms. The good news to me was it had not spread to my liiver or brain. Yeah!  I am definitely an optimistic ever since I got cancer.  I never realized how blessed I am.  Anyway, it is a year and half later and  I'm still here.

1st treatment was Carboplatin  630 mg with Gemzar 160 mg.  This worked lke a charm.  Everyone can tolerate different amounts. my doctor suggested 3 treatment. There was such an improvement  after 3 that I asked if we could do three more. She suggested we take it one at a time from this point on and I was to tell her when I couldn't take it any more. Well we did three more and another CT.  Yes there had been unbelieveable improvement and all the LYMPH NODES HAD CLEARED UP.  NO SIGN OF THEM. THE NODULES IN MY LUNGS HAD EITHER DISAPPEARED COMPLETELY OR WERE REDUCED TO SUCH SMALL SIZES THEY WERE HARD TO EVEN MEASURE. AND THE CANCER HAD NOT SPREAD TO ANY OTHER ORGANS. THey suggested I take a Break from Chemo, but I said I was still strong enough to take another treatment. Now understand that doesn't mean I wasn't tired because I was.  So I took number 7 and I knew that I couldn't handle any more treatments.

 

Back for a a ct scan.  Nothing had grown , but it was suggested  that I had  2 options at that point.  1.  wait till the cancer started growing again and it would they said or 2.  be more pro active and do radiation. I picked the radiation and it was hard.  In some ways harder then the Chemo.  It was an individual decision that each person has to make  for himself.  Get all the facts. I took 6 weeks off after radiation and went on a vacation and stayed around the house getting my strength back.  A glorious 6 weeks.  After that was over My Oncologist sugested at this time after taking another Ct and PET that She wanted to put me on a second line drug called ALIMTA. It is now the beginning of June  2009 and I have been on that drug since Oct, of 2008.Every treatment brings on new challenges, but it is keeping me alive. There are cases where people have been on this drug for 3 years.  By the way there is very little or no toxicity, unlike carboplatin and gemzar.

At this point I can still play golf, take 1 mile walks , go out to dinner regularly with friends.  Yes I have my bad days,but I sure try and make the most of my good days. At this point I would say I have more good days than bad, that gives me a quality of life I can live with.  I must add to this that I have a husband and friends who stepped up and helped me every step of the way when I need it.  I still drive 1 1/2 hours  to my appointments by myself and control my own care and stay informed as much as I can.  You have to be assertive and learn what you options are. I hope this has been helpful. If you want my telephone numer just let me know. I talk with several lung cancer patients and they are all doing quite well.

God Bless you and keep you safe,

Jo Anne

 

 

 

Dear Jo Anne,

Thank you so much for this information. This really helps and gives us encouragement. I am happy to hear that you are having success with your treatment. I really enjoy reading about stories like this. I thank you for taking the time to reply to my message. I would really like your telephone number so maybe you can talk to my mother. I think it would really help her to hear from someone who is going through the same thing. My mom is 51 years old and she had never been on any type of medication before her diagnosis so she is just very nervous about receiving any IV chemo. She is willing to do whatever to fight this but is just afraid. She is currently being treated at MD Anderson in Houston. So we travel there every 3 weeks. Thanks again.

God bless you,

Missy

 

On 6/4/2009 melian wrote:

 

On 6/4/2009 Jo Anne golfer wrote:

 

On 6/3/2009 melian wrote:

Hi,

My mother is currently on a new research drug for her Stage IV NSCLC and if this doesn't continue to work the they are considering trying Carboplatin. I was just wondering how well this works and what the side effects would be? We really want to try Tarceva but we are not sure if she should do the IV chemo first then Tarceva? My mother does Ahave history of smoking and other than the cancer she has no other health problems. We are just confused on what to do. If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks- Missy

 

Misty,I am so happy to give you good new!. I am 67 years old and was given 3-6 months to live because I had stage lV lung cancer in four of my five lung  lobes and mine had metastasied to my Hilar lymph nodes and upper mediastinal, as well as to my mediastinal lymph nodes and the axial lymph nodes unter my arms. The good news to me was it had not spread to my liiver or brain. Yeah!  I am definitely an optimistic ever since I got cancer.  I never realized how blessed I am.  Anyway, it is a year and half later and  I'm still here.

1st treatment was Carboplatin  630 mg with Gemzar 160 mg.  This worked lke a charm.  Everyone can tolerate different amounts. my doctor suggested 3 treatment. There was such an improvement  after 3 that I asked if we could do three more. She suggested we take it one at a time from this point on and I was to tell her when I couldn't take it any more. Well we did three more and another CT.  Yes there had been unbelieveable improvement and all the LYMPH NODES HAD CLEARED UP.  NO SIGN OF THEM. THE NODULES IN MY LUNGS HAD EITHER DISAPPEARED COMPLETELY OR WERE REDUCED TO SUCH SMALL SIZES THEY WERE HARD TO EVEN MEASURE. AND THE CANCER HAD NOT SPREAD TO ANY OTHER ORGANS. THey suggested I take a Break from Chemo, but I said I was still strong enough to take another treatment. Now understand that doesn't mean I wasn't tired because I was.  So I took number 7 and I knew that I couldn't handle any more treatments.

 

Back for a a ct scan.  Nothing had grown , but it was suggested  that I had  2 options at that point.  1.  wait till the cancer started growing again and it would they said or 2.  be more pro active and do radiation. I picked the radiation and it was hard.  In some ways harder then the Chemo.  It was an individual decision that each person has to make  for himself.  Get all the facts. I took 6 weeks off after radiation and went on a vacation and stayed around the house getting my strength back.  A glorious 6 weeks.  After that was over My Oncologist sugested at this time after taking another Ct and PET that She wanted to put me on a second line drug called ALIMTA. It is now the beginning of June  2009 and I have been on that drug since Oct, of 2008.Every treatment brings on new challenges, but it is keeping me alive. There are cases where people have been on this drug for 3 years.  By the way there is very little or no toxicity, unlike carboplatin and gemzar.

At this point I can still play golf, take 1 mile walks , go out to dinner regularly with friends.  Yes I have my bad days,but I sure try and make the most of my good days. At this point I would say I have more good days than bad, that gives me a quality of life I can live with.  I must add to this that I have a husband and friends who stepped up and helped me every step of the way when I need it.  I still drive 1 1/2 hours  to my appointments by myself and control my own care and stay informed as much as I can.  You have to be assertive and learn what you options are. I hope this has been helpful. If you want my telephone numer just let me know. I talk with several lung cancer patients and they are all doing quite well.

God Bless you and keep you safe,

Jo Anne

 

 

 

Dear Jo Anne,

Thank you so much for this information. This really helps and gives us encouragement. I am happy to hear that you are having success with your treatment. I really enjoy reading about stories like this. I thank you for taking the time to reply to my message. I would really like your telephone number so maybe you can talk to my mother. I think it would really help her to hear from someone who is going through the same thing. My mom is 51 years old and she had never been on any type of medication before her diagnosis so she is just very nervous about receiving any IV chemo. She is willing to do whatever to fight this but is just afraid. She is currently being treated at MD Anderson in Houston. So we travel there every 3 weeks. Thanks again.

God bless you,

Missy

 

Misty,

I am glad if I was able to help.  Maybe that is why the Lord is keeping me here on Earth so that I can finally help others.

contact me on my e-mail ane I will give you my telephone numbers. 

--Message edited by CancerCompass staff. For personal protection, email address removed. Consider private reply. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html--

Looking foward to talking with you and your Mother soon.

 

On 6/4/2009 melian wrote:

 

On 6/4/2009 Jo Anne golfer wrote:

 

On 6/3/2009 melian wrote:

Hi,

My mother is currently on a new research drug for her Stage IV NSCLC and if this doesn't continue to work the they are considering trying Carboplatin. I was just wondering how well this works and what the side effects would be? We really want to try Tarceva but we are not sure if she should do the IV chemo first then Tarceva? My mother does Ahave history of smoking and other than the cancer she has no other health problems. We are just confused on what to do. If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks- Missy

 

Misty,I am so happy to give you good new!. I am 67 years old and was given 3-6 months to live because I had stage lV lung cancer in four of my five lung  lobes and mine had metastasied to my Hilar lymph nodes and upper mediastinal, as well as to my mediastinal lymph nodes and the axial lymph nodes unter my arms. The good news to me was it had not spread to my liiver or brain. Yeah!  I am definitely an optimistic ever since I got cancer.  I never realized how blessed I am.  Anyway, it is a year and half later and  I'm still here.

1st treatment was Carboplatin  630 mg with Gemzar 160 mg.  This worked lke a charm.  Everyone can tolerate different amounts. my doctor suggested 3 treatment. There was such an improvement  after 3 that I asked if we could do three more. She suggested we take it one at a time from this point on and I was to tell her when I couldn't take it any more. Well we did three more and another CT.  Yes there had been unbelieveable improvement and all the LYMPH NODES HAD CLEARED UP.  NO SIGN OF THEM. THE NODULES IN MY LUNGS HAD EITHER DISAPPEARED COMPLETELY OR WERE REDUCED TO SUCH SMALL SIZES THEY WERE HARD TO EVEN MEASURE. AND THE CANCER HAD NOT SPREAD TO ANY OTHER ORGANS. THey suggested I take a Break from Chemo, but I said I was still strong enough to take another treatment. Now understand that doesn't mean I wasn't tired because I was.  So I took number 7 and I knew that I couldn't handle any more treatments.

 

Back for a a ct scan.  Nothing had grown , but it was suggested  that I had  2 options at that point.  1.  wait till the cancer started growing again and it would they said or 2.  be more pro active and do radiation. I picked the radiation and it was hard.  In some ways harder then the Chemo.  It was an individual decision that each person has to make  for himself.  Get all the facts. I took 6 weeks off after radiation and went on a vacation and stayed around the house getting my strength back.  A glorious 6 weeks.  After that was over My Oncologist sugested at this time after taking another Ct and PET that She wanted to put me on a second line drug called ALIMTA. It is now the beginning of June  2009 and I have been on that drug since Oct, of 2008.Every treatment brings on new challenges, but it is keeping me alive. There are cases where people have been on this drug for 3 years.  By the way there is very little or no toxicity, unlike carboplatin and gemzar.

At this point I can still play golf, take 1 mile walks , go out to dinner regularly with friends.  Yes I have my bad days,but I sure try and make the most of my good days. At this point I would say I have more good days than bad, that gives me a quality of life I can live with.  I must add to this that I have a husband and friends who stepped up and helped me every step of the way when I need it.  I still drive 1 1/2 hours  to my appointments by myself and control my own care and stay informed as much as I can.  You have to be assertive and learn what you options are. I hope this has been helpful. If you want my telephone numer just let me know. I talk with several lung cancer patients and they are all doing quite well.

God Bless you and keep you safe,

Jo Anne

 

 

 

Dear Jo Anne,

Thank you so much for this information. This really helps and gives us encouragement. I am happy to hear that you are having success with your treatment. I really enjoy reading about stories like this. I thank you for taking the time to reply to my message. I would really like your telephone number so maybe you can talk to my mother. I think it would really help her to hear from someone who is going through the same thing. My mom is 51 years old and she had never been on any type of medication before her diagnosis so she is just very nervous about receiving any IV chemo. She is willing to do whatever to fight this but is just afraid. She is currently being treated at MD Anderson in Houston. So we travel there every 3 weeks. Thanks again.

God bless you,

Missy

 

Misty,

I am glad if I was able to help.  Maybe that is why the Lord is keeping me here on Earth so that I can finally help others.

contact me on my e-mail ane I will give you my telephone numbers. 

--Message edited by CancerCompass staff. For personal protection, email address removed. Consider private reply. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html--

Looking foward to talking with you and your Mother soon.

 

On 6/4/2009 melian wrote:

 

On 6/4/2009 Jo Anne golfer wrote:

 

On 6/3/2009 melian wrote:

Hi,

My mother is currently on a new research drug for her Stage IV NSCLC and if this doesn't continue to work the they are considering trying Carboplatin. I was just wondering how well this works and what the side effects would be? We really want to try Tarceva but we are not sure if she should do the IV chemo first then Tarceva? My mother does Ahave history of smoking and other than the cancer she has no other health problems. We are just confused on what to do. If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks- Missy

 

Misty,I am so happy to give you good new!. I am 67 years old and was given 3-6 months to live because I had stage lV lung cancer in four of my five lung  lobes and mine had metastasied to my Hilar lymph nodes and upper mediastinal, as well as to my mediastinal lymph nodes and the axial lymph nodes unter my arms. The good news to me was it had not spread to my liiver or brain. Yeah!  I am definitely an optimistic ever since I got cancer.  I never realized how blessed I am.  Anyway, it is a year and half later and  I'm still here.

1st treatment was Carboplatin  630 mg with Gemzar 160 mg.  This worked lke a charm.  Everyone can tolerate different amounts. my doctor suggested 3 treatment. There was such an improvement  after 3 that I asked if we could do three more. She suggested we take it one at a time from this point on and I was to tell her when I couldn't take it any more. Well we did three more and another CT.  Yes there had been unbelieveable improvement and all the LYMPH NODES HAD CLEARED UP.  NO SIGN OF THEM. THE NODULES IN MY LUNGS HAD EITHER DISAPPEARED COMPLETELY OR WERE REDUCED TO SUCH SMALL SIZES THEY WERE HARD TO EVEN MEASURE. AND THE CANCER HAD NOT SPREAD TO ANY OTHER ORGANS. THey suggested I take a Break from Chemo, but I said I was still strong enough to take another treatment. Now understand that doesn't mean I wasn't tired because I was.  So I took number 7 and I knew that I couldn't handle any more treatments.

 

Back for a a ct scan.  Nothing had grown , but it was suggested  that I had  2 options at that point.  1.  wait till the cancer started growing again and it would they said or 2.  be more pro active and do radiation. I picked the radiation and it was hard.  In some ways harder then the Chemo.  It was an individual decision that each person has to make  for himself.  Get all the facts. I took 6 weeks off after radiation and went on a vacation and stayed around the house getting my strength back.  A glorious 6 weeks.  After that was over My Oncologist sugested at this time after taking another Ct and PET that She wanted to put me on a second line drug called ALIMTA. It is now the beginning of June  2009 and I have been on that drug since Oct, of 2008.Every treatment brings on new challenges, but it is keeping me alive. There are cases where people have been on this drug for 3 years.  By the way there is very little or no toxicity, unlike carboplatin and gemzar.

At this point I can still play golf, take 1 mile walks , go out to dinner regularly with friends.  Yes I have my bad days,but I sure try and make the most of my good days. At this point I would say I have more good days than bad, that gives me a quality of life I can live with.  I must add to this that I have a husband and friends who stepped up and helped me every step of the way when I need it.  I still drive 1 1/2 hours  to my appointments by myself and control my own care and stay informed as much as I can.  You have to be assertive and learn what you options are. I hope this has been helpful. If you want my telephone numer just let me know. I talk with several lung cancer patients and they are all doing quite well.

God Bless you and keep you safe,

Jo Anne

 

 

 

Dear Jo Anne,

Thank you so much for this information. This really helps and gives us encouragement. I am happy to hear that you are having success with your treatment. I really enjoy reading about stories like this. I thank you for taking the time to reply to my message. I would really like your telephone number so maybe you can talk to my mother. I think it would really help her to hear from someone who is going through the same thing. My mom is 51 years old and she had never been on any type of medication before her diagnosis so she is just very nervous about receiving any IV chemo. She is willing to do whatever to fight this but is just afraid. She is currently being treated at MD Anderson in Houston. So we travel there every 3 weeks. Thanks again.

God bless you,

Missy

 

Misty,

I am glad if I was able to help.  Maybe that is why the Lord is keeping me here on Earth so that I can finally help others.

contact me on my e-mail ane I will give you my telephone numbers. 

--Message edited by CancerCompass staff. For personal protection, email address removed. Consider private reply. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html--

Looking foward to talking with you and your Mother soon.

Hi Missy,

My father has just been diagosis with sarcomatoid carcinomalung, a rare lung cancer and in stage 3+ . He had carboplatin yesterday along with 3 other chemo agents but he did very well. Thanks God. He had no side effects at all. I hope your mother respond to the medication without any side effect.

Best wishes,

Stacy